Show THE SIXTH OF arll ARIL thirty eight years ago today to day the church of jesus chris christ t of ratter latter day saints was organized with six members at the house of father whitmer fayette Fayet tc seneca county new york from so small smail a beginning what wonderful ts have havo grown this was our reflection yesterday and today to day in 16 looking upon the vast congregation that was assembled in meeting at the new tabernacle the leading men from every part of this territory with a sprinkling from the adjacent territories of arizona and ida ho a scope of country extending upwards of five hundred miles from the north to the south are here representing numerous thrifty and populous settlements A great people have been gathered together an extensive countr country y has been settled and all this has been accomplished in the brief space of thir ty eight years in the face of a formidable and unrelenting opposition which has not hesitated to shed blood and to perpetrate every species of virulence to achieve its objects in overthrowing and destroying the church of jesus christ of saints could joseph and the other faithful men who assembled together at father Whit mers thirty eight years ago today to day have lived to see eee this day and to behold behold the scenes in which the latteri latter i day lay saints are now living in this territory and participate how suggestive would the tho contrast have been to their minds and though not permitted to palpably mingle in in mortal scenes yet from the abode of the blessed they contemplate with more than mortal joy the glorious results that have thus far attended the work which they were vere under the direction of the almighty the honored instruments in founding there is nothing unexpected however in the growth which this work has already reached those who wha have been connected with it from the beginning are not surprised at its prosperity when the members of the church were so few that they could all be accommodated in one of the rooms of an ordinary dwelling house housa they predicted in un mistake ble language and with unerring accuracy the great effects which should follow tb their air labors and the steps they were then taking god had revealed to them the nature of the work which he had established and though tp all human appearances pear pe arances anees there was but little if any prospect of success they knew that it would triumph it is this never dying faith that has sustained the people and astonished their enemies no amount of disaster has disco discouraged braced them they had as great con confidence fiden cc in the eventual triumph of the cause when they were homeless wanderers and stripped of their property by the vindictive cruelty of mobs as they had when dwelling in the midst of peace and plenty their faith could not be extinguished by persecution and it is this peculiarity that has surprised the enemies of the latte rd saints they have not been able to account for such serene confidence under the same influence which inspired the first elders we who live today can look forward to the future with equal confidence as to the results there is a career of glory opening up before the latter day saints which nothing but their own unfaithfulness can prevent them from enjoying S 0 |